MYSORE: The Tamil Nadu government might be holding Karnataka responsible for the damage to the crop in Cauvery delta, the farmers in Kabini and Cauvery basins are seeking the state government to pay crop compensation.

While the TN has decided to move the apex court seeking damages from Karnataka for the crop loss accusing the state of not releasing water to the lower riparian state, the farmers in the Cauvery belt have upped the ante seeking damages for the crop loss. On Wednesday they laid siege to Deputy Commissioner's Office and asked Karnataka government to respond to them. While the TN is accusing the state of adopting adamant approach, the farming community from the state said they have suffered loss given the release of water to TN.

Kabini dam, which has hit dead storage in early January, irrigates 1.10 lakh hectares in Mysore and Chamarajnagar districts. This season due to drought like situation, the farmers cultivated 70,000 hectares. But since the water was released from both the KRS and Kabini dams, they said they have suffered crop loss. The government is responsible for this and should pay compensation, they argued. Due to release of water, the villagers are facing difficulties in getting water and even the wild animals are facing the crisis. This has heightened tension since they fear elephants will raid villages bordering forested areas in search of water and food. The farmers under the banner of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha protested in the city before staging a sit-in at the DC office.

The state released water following direction from the apex court and the Cauvery Monitoring Committee and is now facing difficulty in meeting the drinking water needs with Kabini dam reaching dead storage and KRS dam hitting 81 ft in early January, something which has not happened since four decades.

The protestors said Rs 4 hike in the prices of milk will not help the farming community since the benefit is not passed on to them.